sheehy



(No Model.) I 2 She3tsSheet 1. R J. SHEEHY.

PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

No. 307,233. Patented Oct. 28, 1884.

WITNESSES r INVENTOR By his flttorneys Units. Starts ATENT ries.

ROBERT J. SHEEHY, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

PRINTING-TELEGRAPH.

'QBECIPICATIQN fQrming part of Letters Patent No. 307,238, dated October 28, 1884.

Application filed November 19. 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may cancer-1t Be it known that I, ROBERT J. Snnnnv, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improve-- ments in Printing-Telegraphs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of apparatus employed for recording the messages or dispatches which are transmitted over a single telegraphic main line or conductor in the form of electric impulses by means of characters impressed upon a paper tape from a revolv apparatus in substantially the following mani fected.

ner: Two electro-magnets are supported with their poles of opposite character confronting,

and between these poles extends a polarized armature capable of moving to and fro be tween the same in response to electric impulses of alternating polarity which are caused to traverse the coils of the elect-ro-magnets. The armature is supported upon a pivoted lever which carries an escapement adapted to permit a step-hystep advancement of a scapewheel, which is impelled in a given direction through the influence of a spring or weight and a train of wheels. A type-wheel is supported upon the same shaft with the scapewheel, and is thus caused to advance step by step in response to electric impulses of alternating polarity. Impressions are effected from this type-wheel by means of an armature which is supported upon an independent lever, and which extends into proximity to the outer surfaces of the coils of both electro-magnets. Two soft-iron bands surround thecoils of the respective electro-magnets, and serve to attract this second armature when the electro-magnets are vitalized by currents of sufficient duration. The alternating electric impulses by means of shown in section.

of the paper tape is occasioned by means of suitable paper-feeding wheels, which receive their motion from the train of gear-wheels through a yielding frictional connection and a coiled spring which is placed under sufficienttcnsion for that purpose by the movement of the train of wheels. The advancement of the friction-rollers is prevented, however, during the advancement of the type-wheel by means of an escapementanchor acting upon a scapewheel. This eseapement is actuated by the printing-lever, and permits it to advance during the movement of the platen away from the type-wheel after an impression has been ef- The unison of the type-wheel is secured by means of a Geneva stop, which is applied to the typewheel shaft, and which is adapted to cause the same to be arrested in a predetermined position when the type-wheel is cansedto revolve continuously at given number of times. For the purpose, however, of releasing the stop and preventing it from so arresting the type-wheel during the continuous operation of printing, and also for disengaging the type-wheel shaft after the type wheel has been brought to unison, I apply to the paper-feeding device a releasing device which operates each time an impression is effected from the type-wheel, and the paper is advanced to disengage the stop and to prevent it from looking the type-wheel until the latter has again performed the entire number of revolutions.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the instrument, and Fig. 2 is a like view taken through the plane 2 2, Fig. 4. Fig. 3' is a transverse section through the plane 3 3, Fi 1. Fig. 4 is'a side elevation, the case being Fig. 5 illustrates certain ICO details of the construction of the unison de vice.

Referring to these ligures, A represents a suitable case, which is preferably cylindrical in form, for inclosing certain parts of the mechanism. A suitable'train of gear-wheels, B, is inclosed within the lower portion of-the case A, and driven by means of a spring, 13, or by means of a weight. This train imparts to a shaft, 0, a revolution, which in turn is communicated, through a geanwheel, c, and pinion 0 to a type-wheel shaft, 7.

Surrounding the shaft (1 is a coiled spring, 0, one end of which is secured to the shaft, while the remaining end is attached to a sleeve carrying the pinion 6-. The tension of the spring a is suttlcient to advance the shaft (1, and thus the wheel 0', in the direction indicated by the arrow, as far as the latter is permitted to revolve, by an escapcnient-anchor, E. \Vhen the scape-wheel is brought to rest by the anchor 15, the force exerted by the train of gear upon the pinion a causes thelattcr to advance against the tension of the spring. By means of this device I avoid arresting the rtrain of gear abruptly. During the rapid vibration of the c'scapement, and, in fact, even when an impression is being made, the train .3 continues to move, and much less power is therefore required to impel the instrumentat a given speed, since the typewvheel will re spond at once when the scape-wheel is released.

The required movements of the anchoncs eapemcnt l l are occasioned by means of a polarized armature, 1 and its lever f, which constitutes one arm of the lever supporting the escapemcnt. The polarized armature F extends between the confronting poles of an clectro-magnet, F l. The coils of these magnets are wound in the usual manner, so that the magnetism induced in the confronting poles by a current traversing the coils of the two will be of the opposite character. The two coils are connected in series, in the usual manner, and are designed to be included in the mainline conductor. A current of one polarity will impel the armature F in one direction by reason of the attractive force ex erted by one of the electro-magnets and the repulsive force existing between the armature and the'other electroanagnet. A current of the opposite polarity will impel the armature in the opposite direction in the same manner. Thus by means of currents or impulses of alternating polarity the escapement E is actuated and the shaft d permitted to advance step by step. The shaft (1 projects above the top a of the case A, and carries at its extremity a type-wheel, D, the periphery of which is engraved with suitable characters, in a manner well understood.

The paper tape upon which the impressions are to be effected is led through a guide, i", and between a suitable.t'eed-roller, i, and pressure or tension spring 1'. The impressions are effected from the type-wheel upon this tape by means of a printing-platen, h, which is carried upon an arm, 7r, extending through a guide, 11?, secured to the top a of the frame A. The arm 71? is pivoted to the extremity of an armature-lever, h", carrying an armature, H. This armature is parallel with the two magnets Fand F, and projects beyond their confronting poles outside their coils. The coilsare respectively surrounded by soft-iron bands h and h, and are preferably extended or thickened along the portions H and H beneath the respective extremities of the armature IT. This armature is preferably made in the form of a section of a cylinder for the purpose of conforming to the surface presented by the extensions ll and ll. A suitable retractile spring, it, normally holds the armature away from the surface of the coils, and prevents it from responding to the magnetism induced in the bands h and If by the electric impulses of short duration employed for actuating the es capement. \Vhen, however, any one of these impulses is prolonged, sufficientmagnetism is induced in the bands h and h" to overcome the retractile force of the spring it and the armature is thereforedrawn toward the coils of the magnets. The platen h is thereby thrust toward the type-wheel, causing an impression of the character which has been caused to stand in front of the paper tape to be effected upon the same. In this manner the typewheel may be arrested at any desired point, and an impression of any required character upon the type-wheel may be eflected.

For the purpose of actuating the frictionroller if and advancing the paper tape after each impression, this roller is carried upon a shaft,j which is caused to advance bymeans of two fllCflOl1-fOllGlS,j" and connecting the same with a shaft, j. The shaft j, which is represented as being geared with the arbor C, may be any suitable arbor employed in the train mechanism 13. A spring, j, Fig. 4:, preferably connects the wheel j with the shaft j", in a manner similar to that described with reference to the scape-wheel c and the shaft (1. There will thus be continually stored up in the springj sufficient energy to revolve the paper-feeding wheel 1' the required distance each time the shaftj is released by the action of an escapement j acting upon the scapewheel j, which is secured to the shaft. The escapement-anehor j is connected with the lever in of the printingplaten by means of a link or pivoted lever, j, aml each to and-fro movement of the arm 72: during the process of printing causes this lever to be actuated, thereby permitting the scape-wheel j to ad ICO vance one tooth and the friction-whcelj to revolve the required distance. The scapewheel and escapement-anchor are preferably so constructed that this advancement will oc cur during the movement of the plateurod 71? away from the type-wheel.

For the purpose of securing a unison between the receiving-instrument and the instrument employed for transmitting the requisite electric impulses and currents thereto, it is necessary to provide some device for an resting the type-wheel in a predetermined position whenever desired. For this purpose I apply to the type-wheelshaft d a device known as a Geneva stop.

This device consists of a primary or looking wheel, 7:, having a single tooth, k, formed upon its periphery, and engaging a wheel, 7;, carried at the tree on tremity of a pivoted arm, 7:". The'periphery of the wheel 75 fits into successive hollow teeth or concave faces 7;, which are formed in the periphery of the secondary wheel. 75'. Once in each revolution of the wheel 7.2 the tooth 7c enters a corresponding space or opening, 76*, intervening between the successive concave faces 75, and advances the wheel 7.? one tooth.

Upon the wheel 7c is carried a pin, 7;", which is normally out of the path of a corresponding arm, 7;, carried upon the wheel The successive revolutions of the wheel 7t cause the pin 7r to approach more nearly into the path of the arm 7;", and alter this wheel has described a predetermined number of revolu iionssay i'ourthe stop or pin 7; will be in the path of the arm 7;, and will arrest the type-wheel shaft, and thus the type-wheel, at a predetermined unison-point. At the same instant the tooth It strikes against a convex portion, 7a", of the wheel 78, in the usual manner ot' a Geneva stop. It is evident that the pin or stop 76'' and arm 7; may be dispensed with; but usually I prefer to employ them for relieving the tooth It from undue strain in arresting the typewhecl shalt.

For'the purpose of preventing the typewhccl from being thus arrested during the process of printing continuously. and also for the purpose of unlocking the device after it has been arrested, the wheel 7. is, as already mentioned, n'iounted upon the pivoted arm 7.". A post, Z, serves as the axis of thewheel, and it is connected therewith by means of a. coiled spring, 7.7 in such a manner that a l'orce is normally exerted upon the wheel to revolve it in the direction opposite that indicated by the arrow. Normally, however, the periphery ot' the wheel It prevents it from revolving in that direction, and causes it to retain the successive advanced positions which it assumes by reason of the engagement of the tooth 7r. A tensionspring, in, normally holds the arm 0, and thus the wheel k toward the wheel 7t. It is evident, thus, that when it is desired to release the wheel 76 from engagement with the wheel 7." it is necessary only to foreethe arm 7; backward against the tension of the spring on. This is accomplished by means of a lever, 0, one arm, 0, of which extends in front of the arm 7:, while the other arm, 0, extends toward a toothed wheel, 0, which is mounted upon the arbor ot' the scapewheel j, which feeds the paper. A beveled teeth, 0, formed at the extremity of the arm '0", rests against the periphery of this toothed wheel, and each time the scape-wheel is advancedthe passage of one of its teeth beneath the tooth 0 causes this end of the lever to be thrown outward. The arm 0 is thus caused to force the pivoted arm 7: backward, thereby causing the wheel 7.5- to be released from the wheel k. The wheel 7.: will thereupon be re volved by the action of the spring k until it is arrested in the position shown in Fig. 5 by means of a pin, a, which projects from the face of the wheel and strikes against the supporting-arm 7t". Il'the arm 7.1" be then again released, as it immediately will be by the passing of the teeth of the wheel 0 from beneath the beveled tooth 0", the wheel 75" will be again engaged by the wheel 7.1. The subsequent revolutions of the typewheel shaft will cause the wheel 7.? to be again advanced in the manner already described. that each time the paper-feed is actuated during the operation of printing continuously from the type-wheel the wheel 76- will be permittcd to return to its startingpoint. WVhen, however, the required number of revolutions of the type-wheelsay l'our-occur without interruption, the typewheel will be arrested at its unison-point in the manner described.

I am aware thatit has been proposed to actunto the press-levers of printing-instruments by means of armaturcs applied to extensions of the pole-pieces of the escapcment-actuating electro'magnets. The bands or plates which are applied to the exterior of the clectro-magnets, and which I employ for the purpose of actuating the printing-lever, are not polar tensions; but they are entirely independent toothed wheel constructed to serve as a unison-stop against the tension of a retractingspring once in each revolution of'the typewheel. shalt. It has been necessary, however, in such an organization to employ not only the tension-spring to prevent the undue advancement ot the wheel, but also a detent or retainingpawl to prevent the wheel from returning to its normal position when the cog has passed out of engagement with the teeth of the wheel. By the use of the Geneva stop which I employ the locking in both directions is efi'ected by the primary wheel. and it is not necessary to employ either a retracting-spring or a locking-pawl. The useless expenditure of force in overcoming the tension of the retractingspring during the continuous operation of the instrument, when it is not desired to secure a unison, is thus obviated; and in every way the device which I employ is more It will be seen thus certain in its operation, more simple in its construction, and less liable to become out of order.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set fartlnwith a type-wheel and means, substantially such as described, for actuating said type-wheel, of an escapement for controli ling the movements of the same, a polarized armature for actuating said escapement, located between the confronting poles of an clcc taro-magnet, a printing-platen, a soft-iron armature for actuating the same, and two softiron plates applied to the exterior of said elec tro-magnet for attracting said armature.

2. Thecombination,substantiallyas hereinbefore set forth,with a type-wheel and means, substantially such as described, for actuating 1 said type-wheel step by step, oi'an electro-mag 1 net, one or more softiron bands surrounding l l l l said electro-magnet, and an armature applied to said bands and acting in response to elec tric impulses of a given character to effectimpressions from said type-wheel.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a typewheel, means, substantially such as described, for actuating the same, an armature actuated in response to electric currents of a given character to effect impressions from said typewheel, a paper feeding device, a frictional connection between said paper feeding device and the impelling mechanism of said ty )e-wheel, and an escapement device actuated by the movements of said printing-armature for permitting an advancement of said paper-feeding device.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a type wheel and means, substantially such as described, for actuating and effecting impressions from the same, of a paper-feeding device, a frictional connection between said device and the actuating-power of said type wheel, a yielding spring normally placed ,nndertension by the action of said frictional connection, an escapement for normally retaining said paper-feeding device against the tension of said spring, and means, substantially such as described, for actuating said escapement and permitting said device to respond to the tension of said spring when an impression is taken from said type-wheel.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbei'orc set forth, with a type-wheel, a typewheel shaft, and means, substantially such as described, for actuating the same, of a unison device consisting of a Geneva stop applied to said type-wheel shaft.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a type-wheel, a type wheel shaft, and means, substantially such as described, for actuating the same, of a Geneva stop applied to said shaft, an arm moving with said shaft, and a detent caused by the action of said Geneva stop to be periodically placed, by the revolution of said type-wheel, in the path of said arm.

7. A unison device for printingtelegraph receivlug-instruments, consisting of the two wheels of a Geneva stop, the one of which is applied to the type-wheel shaft of the instrument, while the other is engaged thereby, and means, substantially such as described, ior separating said wheels from engagement with each other.

8. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the typewheel shaft of a printing-telegraph receiving-insti-ument, of the primary wheel of a Geneva stop, mounted upon said shaft, the secondary wheel ofsaid stop, and means, Substantially such as described, whereby said shaft is arrested in a predetermined position when said secondary wheel has been brought into a given position through the agency of said primary wheel.

9. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a type-wheel shaft, of a locking-wheel carried upon said shaft, a wheel periodically advanced by the action of said locking-wheel,-means, substantially such as described, tending to hold the last-named wheel in engagement with said locking-Wheel, an electro-magnet, a paper-feeding device actuated by said electroanagnet, and means, substantially such as described, for causing said paperieeding device to throw said wheels out of engagement with each other each time it is actuated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of November, 100

ROBERT J. SHEEHY.

\Vitnesses:

DANL. \V. Encnoonn, CHARLES A. TERRY. 

